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Global Problems...Local Solutions<br />
WWF’s work on Energy and Water<br />
Security in India<br />
Sejal Worah
India: A Study in Contrasts<br />
Expected to become the world’s third largest<br />
economy by 2050
Energy...<br />
• Over 400 million people without access to<br />
electricity<br />
• Nearly over 800 million people rely on<br />
biomass for cooking<br />
• One of the lowest per capita energy<br />
consumptions in the world
Water...<br />
• Most river basins are over extracted and<br />
almost all rivers are polluted<br />
• 15% of India’s aquifers are in critical condition<br />
and this could go up to 60% by 2040<br />
• 15% of India’s food production depends on<br />
“mined” water
Forests<br />
• Over the last 20 years, 1.2 million ha of forest<br />
have been diverted to infrastructure projects –<br />
roads, mining, hydropower...<br />
• In the last four years alone nearly 400 sq km<br />
of forest has been “lost”
Of the G20 countries, India will be<br />
worst hit by climate change...
A transformational<br />
decade?<br />
• India needs to grow by at least 8-10% for the<br />
next 2-3 decades to lift millions out of poverty<br />
• The development imperative is not in question<br />
but inequity and access need to be addressed<br />
• Efficiency and innovation are the “low hanging<br />
fruit”<br />
• Growth without incurring massive<br />
environmental debts is key
Finding the right mix of...<br />
• Technology<br />
• Finance<br />
• Institutions<br />
• Governance<br />
• Environmental Sustainability<br />
India (and the world) has no choice but to<br />
select an alternative development pathway
The Sundarbans<br />
• The largest mangrove delta in the world (10,000<br />
sq km)<br />
• Home to 4 million people - population density of<br />
nearly 1000 people per sq km<br />
•One of the most “climate threatened” places in<br />
the region<br />
• Barely 20% have access to reliable energy<br />
• Most people depend on agriculture or natural<br />
resources for livelihoods
The<br />
Vision<br />
WWF &<br />
Bushlight
The Himalayas
Water: A Precious Resource
RM&DD, Govt of<br />
Sikkim & WWF get<br />
National Groundwater<br />
Award!
What we have learnt<br />
• It is possible to scale up local solutions – the<br />
right partners are key<br />
• Linking traditional and scientific knowledge<br />
enhances acceptance of solutions<br />
• Empowerment leads to innovation which<br />
leads to new solutions to emerging problems<br />
• Ensuring that the technology supports long<br />
term conservation of the natural resource<br />
base will lead to more sustainable solutions
Thank You